Cheshire pair in action in opening round of Super League

After a pulsating opening match of the Super League season, which saw early favourites Wigan Warriors draw away to Widnes Vikings, Coral bring you match previews for two more matches, featuring teams who will no doubt be serious challengers for silverware by the end of the season.

St Helens v Catalans
The reigning Super League champions face what could well be a tricky test, with French outfit Catalan Dragons visiting, who pulled off a major coup in the close season by signing Australian prop Willie Tonga, who has been prolific for Parramatta Eels.

Three of the top scorers from the last campaign are spread across both teams, so there should be no shortage of tries. The hosts’ Tommy Makinson (25) was sandwiched in between Catalan pair Morgan Escare (27) and Michael Oldfield (20).

Saints are odds-on at 4/11 with Coral for victory, and will be hoping to take advantage of fierce rivals Wigan’s slip-up, and Makinson is 7/1 to cross the whitewash first, having scored in his team’s last competitive match. The Grand Final win against Wigan no less. Lance Hohaia, who also pitched in with a try, is 11/4 to cross anytime.

Duo Escare and Oldifeld will no doubt be in with a chance of scoring, and the pair are 9/1 and 11/1 respectively to breach the in-goal area first, while debtutant Tonga is a decent 7/4 shout in the anytime market.

Warrington v Salford
“Wire” are heavily odds-on at 3/10 to beat the Red Devils and 2014 Super League top scorer Joel Monaghan will be hoping for more of the same this time around. He is 6/1 to score the first try.

The Wolves have brought in last season’s Man of Steel and Young Player of the Year, Daryl Clark, from Castleford Tigers, and he could well be crucial to their trophy ambitions. He is 11/8 to score anytime, though the Wolves have a host of potential scorers in their litter.

Ryan Atkins and Chris Bridge are reliable scorers and are 11/8 and 13/8 respectively in the anytime market. For the visitors, Ben Jones-Bishop could be their best chance, and is 12/1 to cross the whitewash first, while Rangi Chase is always worth keeping an eye on, and is a very good value at 11/4 in the anytime market.